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56Clippers

Re: Mojave Tan - A 1956 400 Saga

#291

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Quote:

kevinpackard wrote:
Quote:

56Clippers wrote:

Did you compare the offset of the 53 vesus the 56 wheels?

I did not. Are they different?

I haven’t found a spec for offset so I’m not sure.
If they are, it can make a difference in wear and handling.

Posted on: 5/23 13:30

BDeB

Re: Mojave Tan - A 1956 400 Saga

#292

Home away from home

Quote:

kevinpackard wrote:
Quote:

56Clippers wrote:

Did you compare the offset of the 53 vesus the 56 wheels?

I did not. Are they different?

From actual measurements:

Offset for 6" wide rims from 1948 to 1955 is 9/16"

Offset for 5.5" wide rims from 1948 to 1953 is 13/16"

Posted on: 5/23 14:38

1949 Custom 8

Pgh Ultramatic

Re: Mojave Tan - A 1956 400 Saga

#293

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For the generator, next time this happens check the arm and field voltages to ground. If no arm voltage, then there is an open circuit in the armature (e.g. brushes). If there is some arm but no field, then the "voltage" contacts in the regulator are suspect. For the latter, revving the engine will boost the arm voltage with no real effect on the field unless the situation should coincidentally magically cure itself.

I'm not sure why you would have a problem with the brushes sticking. If you want, remove them and apply a thin coat of 00 grease to the sides, staying a bit from the end. It shouldn't really migrate unless you overdo it. 🤔

Posted on: 5/23 19:48

56Clippers

Re: Mojave Tan - A 1956 400 Saga

#294

Home away from home

Quote:

Ross wrote:.

To your symptoms: The brake light switch is purposed to turn the leveler off while braking; if your car perchance has one of the VW three-prong brake light switches instead of an original (switch has blades rather than pins for connection) the normal residual pressure in the brake system will keep the leveler turned off even though the brake lights go on and off normally. Eventually the pressure dies down and the leveler works again. .

More brake light switch information.

The Volkswagen switch has a different purpose for the normally closed switch. It was designed to identify a brake failure in one of the hydraulic circuits and light a dashboard light. Tests of the NAPA Volkswagen brake light switch show the normally closed circuit opens at 7.75 psi and closes at 7.5 psi. While this works for identifying a failure, it has an issue matching the function of the Packard switch. A drum brake system typically has a residual pressure of 10 psi. This would require the residual pressure valve to leak the pressure back into the master for the Volkswagen switch to turn on the levelizer. Hopefully, if the residual pressure valve leaks pressure, it would take a long time. The Packard switch (Wagner) turns the levelizer off at 70 psi and on at 67.5 psi . The brake lights turn on at 85 psi and off at 82.5 psi .

Posted on: 5/24 3:36

56Clippers

Re: Mojave Tan - A 1956 400 Saga

#295

Home away from home

Quote:

BDeB wrote:

From actual measurements:

Offset for 6" wide rims from 1948 to 1955 is 9/16"

Offset for 5.5" wide rims from 1948 to 1953 is 13/16"

Thanks for the measurements. Is it correct that those are positive offsets?

I measured a 1956 5.5” rim, it has a 13/16” positive offset.

Posted on: 5/24 14:45

Pgh Ultramatic

Re: Mojave Tan - A 1956 400 Saga

#296

Home away from home

Quote:

Ross wrote:
An easy check/adjustment for your Bendix power steering:

On the end of the power steering valve there is a little metal cap held on with two screws. You can easily reach it from under the driver's fender even without jacking up the car. Take that cap off. Underneath is a nut that connects the spool valve to the linkage. Tighten that nut nice and snug, then back it off just enough that you can shake it side to side a bit. I often get cars in with that adjusted wrong and it adds a lot of slop.

Otherwise adjust your steering gear as per normal with the front wheels off the ground so you can feel just a tiny bit of drag in the center position. It rare for the cars with PS to have seriously worn boxes as they see so little stress.

About tires: I was entranced with my new 55 Constellation when I got it back in '78(!) The thing cornered like a fox. Then I fixed it up and put new wide whitewalls on it and never enjoyed driving it after. Those big fat letter-series bias ply tires led it all over the road.

For future reference here is a photo of the respective part.

Attach file:

20250527_185300.jpg (6,157.93 KB)

Posted on: 5/27 17:54

kevinpackard

Re: Mojave Tan - A 1956 400 Saga

#297

Home away from home

Local club had a great cruise night this evening. My wife and I drove Tanner around downtown with a bunch of other cars. It's the first time most have seen the 400 and it was well loved. It's still very much a work in progress but it was a hit nonetheless.

Also got a sweet evening shot last night. Love the cathedral taillights.